Key holders



8 Nov. l1, 1958 M. Fr-:REER Erm.

KEY HOLDERS Filear'eb. 27, 1957 INVENTOR United States Patent() KEY HGLDERS Martin Ferber, Newark, and John P. Gannon, Bayside, N. J.

' Application February 27, 1957, serial No. 642,893

s Claims. (ci. 15o-4o) This invention relates to key holders. The principal object of this inventionis to provide a key holder where keys or like objects may be easily at tached or removed, the holder being most effective yet of extreme simplicity in both production and use.

Essentially the key holder of this invention comprises an element which takes the form of a single length of iiat spring metal bent into U-shape and having a post formed across the upper end portions of the arms of the U. The keys are receivable on the post and are maintained in place by the spring pressure of the post directly against the opposite arm. This provides a firm backstop for the post and this permits the use of high pressure so that keys will not be lost. Preferably, but not necessarily, the post is integral with the spring metal body.

ln a modied embodiment, the key holder includes a slidable clasp which embraces the holder element so as to prevent keys from pivoting outwardly when not in use.

A further modied embodiment provides a large capacity holder of maximum simplicity of construction.

The invention will be further understood from the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the key holder in the open position;

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing in dotted lines how the side wings of the case are closed;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the center of the holder;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view in elevation of a modified embodiment;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the line 6--6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side view in elevation of a second modied embodiment;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view taken along the center of a third modified embodiment; and

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Referring to Figures 1 4, the holder comprises a case which may be of exible leather, fabric or plastic. In the form shown, it is fabricated of plastic sheets 15a and 15b electronically sealed at their edges to produce a two piece laminated structure. The case comprises side wings 16 having complementary clasps 17 for closing the case. The light lined rectangular configurations in Figure l represent embossing which deiines the center and side wings of the case.

Receivable between the laminations in the center of the case is the rear arm 18 of a U-shaped holder element 19, the holder element comprising a unitary length of flat, resilient material such as metal, bent upon itself to pro duce the rear arm 18 and the front arm 20 shown as being covered with a plastic jacket. Front arm 20 diverges '2,859,788 Patented. Nov. 11, 1958 ice Y outwardly at its top end as shown to facilitate the introduction or removal of keys from the holder.

The rear arm 18 has cut out therefrom an integral post 21 which is shown as being concavo-convex. and which extends transversely from the top end portion of arm 18 toward the top end portion of the front arm 20. Accord# ingly, the at inner wall of front arm 20 serves as an abutment or backstop for the extreme outer end face of post 21. Inside lamination 15b of the case is formed with a hole through Which post 21 protrudes, thereby anchoring the holder element in place. However, further anchoring means may obviously be employed. Physical details of the formation of post 21 will be further evident from Figures 9 and l0 which show the holder element alone and which will be referred to hereinafter.

The device is used by drawing the front arm 20 forwardly as illustrated by the broken lines of Figure 3 and inserting the post 21 through the usual top holes of keys 22. Thereafter arm 20 is allowedto spring back to its normal position where it meets the free outer end face of post 21 so as to lock the keys in place under pressure.

The keys are used by pivoting them outwardly while retained on the post as illustrated in Figure l. In the closed position of the case, the side wings 16 fold over as illustrated in Figure 2 so as to limit any such outward pivotal movement and retain the keys in place.

In Figure 5, a simple U-shaped length of metal is shown without any case or covering jacket. Rear arm 30 assumes the same form as arm 18, bearing as it does the post 31. However, since the absence of a case might permit the undesired outward swinging of keys, a guard 32 is slidably mounted on the front arm 33.

Guard 32 comprises a front face 34 and inwardly formed side feet 36 which depend laterally therefrom and enclose the sides of the U-shaped length of metal as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The front face 34 has channel edges which slide along the front arm. Guard 32 is slidable downwardly from a normal, side enclosing position dictated by the mating of protuberance 36 with depression 37 in the front arm 33. When a key is to be used, guard 32 is slid downwardly to the broken line position shown in Figure 5 where the keys are freed for outward pivotal movement. The device of Figures 5 and 6 may be used without a case and may, if desired, be provided with a conventional key chain secured to the upper end of rear arm 30.

In Figure 7, the holder of Figure 5 is doubled to provide a double capacity. Thus a single strip of at resilient metal is bent to provide two Us 40 and 41 which are integral and serially connected. Inner arms 42 and 43 are contiguous and each has a cut-out 44 from the material which the posts 45 are formed. Each post 45 can, of course, support keys independently of the other. Separate guards 32 are also provided.

In Figure 9, the basic element is shown, the front arm 50 being provided with a plastic jacket 51 such as in Figure 3. Jacket 51 protects against any sharp edge of the front arm. Post 52 is like the other key holding posts above described. The device of Figure 9 may be used by itself, i. e., without an enclosing case and without a guard. It may further advantageously be of magnetic metal so that it will adhere to an automobile body, for example.

It will be understood that objects other than keys may be held by the various forms of the device. Thus, nail les, small flashlights and other personal objects may be suspended from the post.

There has been shown what is now considered a preferred embodiment of the invention but it is obvious that numerous changes and omissions may be made without departing from its spirit.

What is claimed is:

1. A holder element of the character described comprising a unitary length of at, resilient metal bentY into the form of a U with the at ends of the arms opposing each other, a single post disposed transversely/,across Ythe top portion of the U, said post being formed on the inside, vupper end portion' of one arm and extending toward and havingits extremeouter end face normally abutting v,with spring pressure against the inside, upper end portion of the other arm, said upper end portion lof the other arm thereby serving as a backstop receiving vthe force of said spring pressure, said post being integral with and bent from the material ofsaid one arm, leaving a cut-out in said one arm, said post having its free end normally resting directly against the flat rnetal surface of said inside, upper end portion of the other arm, a flexible case in which the holder element is retained, said case covering said one arm and having an upper opening formed therethrough through which said post protrudes so as to connect said one arm to the case, and side Wings on said case and having complementary clasps whereby said U- shaped length of metal may be embraced by the case in the closed position of the article. t

2. An article of the class described comprising a unitary length of flat, resilient metal bent into the form of a U with the flat ends of the arms opposing each other, a single post disposed transversely across the top portion of the U, said post being formed on the inside, upper end 4 portion of one arm and extending toward and having its extreme outer end face normally abutting with spring pressure against the inside, upper, at end portion of the other arm whereby keys may be suspended from said post so as to rest between said arms, and means enclosing the sides of the U so as to limit outward pivotal movement of any keys suspended from said post, said means being displaceable so as to free any keys to permit outward pivotal movement thereof.

3. An article according to claim 2 and wherein said means comprises a exible case in which said U-shaped length of metal is disposed, and side wings on said case and having complementary clasps for embracing and enclosing the sides of the U.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,425,089 Henry Aug. 8, 1922 1,579,153 Seeler Mar. 30, 1926 1,619,582 McL.Long Mar. l, 1927 1,838,554 Kahn Dec. 29, 1931 1,857,336 Sherwood May l0, 1932 1,909,735 VaVrosky May 16, 1933 2,066,472 Johnson Jan. 5, 1937 2,198,109 Fischer Apr. 23, 1940 2,237,378 Thienemann Apr. 8, 1941 

